Bukit Jalil LRT station's Hollywood connection

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Its association with Tinseltown has added a tinge of glamour to the Bukit Jalil LRT station in Kuala Lumpur. After all, it was here that the final scene of the movie Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones as international art thieves was shot.

That the venue was the location of choice came as no surprise. With its stylish curved off-white roof and exposed frames and beams, the LRT does make for a fetching screen time.

There’s a little trivia about the station that some might not be aware of. The sleek and modern station was renamed the Pudu LRT station (which is another LRT station in Kuala Lumpur) just for the flick, released in 1999, to make it easier for Connery to pronounce, apparently.

Apart from its link to Tinseltown, the station is also often used by sports buffs and concert goers because of its proximity to the National Sports Complex where the Bukit Jalil National Stadium is.

The multi-purpose stadium with a seating capacity of nearly 90,000, was officially launched on Jan 1, 1998 and it was where the 1998 Commonwealth Games and its grand opening ceremony took place.

Part of the station’s interior. — Malay Mail pic

Apart from being the venue of local football matches, this stadium ― the largest in Southeast Asia ― has also played host to various football events such as the Asia Preseason Tours of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

American Idol 2009 runner-up Adam Lambert and local singing sensation Datuk Siti Nurhaliza are among the celebrities who have held concerts at the stadium.

Also located here is the National Aquatic Centre which houses an Olympic-sized swimming pool with 10 lanes and a plunge pool with a drop tower with three platforms, among others.

The centre is currently closed for renovation works in preparation for the upcoming 29th SEA (Southeast Asian) Games or Kuala Lumpur 2017 in August.

And, if you’re planning to go to the Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) then the Bukit Jalil station should be your stop.

It isn’t walking distance from the station but there’s a sheltered taxi stand with benches to sit on just below the station for you to hail a cab or wait for your Uber or GrabCar ride.

Outside the station. — Malay Mail pic

From here you can also catch a RapidKL bus that takes you there as well as the Hockey Stadium and Endah Parade mall, among others.

With a total land area of 303 ha and home to several state-of-the-art buildings with over 150 tech companies, TPM is a “science park” for R&D of knowledge-based industries (those that stress and focus on inputs of technology and/or human capital).

South of the station and just one stop away is the Sri Petaling LRT station. Formerly called the Komanwel LRT station, it is a short walk away from Vista Komanwel condominium which, in 1998, was used as accommodation for athletes during the Commonwealth Games.

The residential building is now mostly occupied by families, young, working professionals as well as students at the nearby International Medical University (IMU) Malaysia who often use the LRT to commute to the city and back.

Next to the station is Taman Komanwel, a relatively small hilltop park popular among fitness enthusiasts since its jogging track, with steep contours, provides a challenging exercise.

From the park’s peak you can admire the beautiful sight of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline, the neighbouring National Sports Complex and its surrounding areas.